HR Coffee Time

Fay Wallis
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Careers
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to the HR Coffee Time podcast; a fortnightly podcast full of tips and ideas to help you have a successful and fulfilling HR career (without working yourself into the ground). It can feel hard to put yourself and your own career first when you're so busy looking after everyone around you. It can leave you at risk of burning out, finding that you're not where you want to be in your career, or feeling unsure about what you want from your career anymore. This podcast is here to help. Join career coach and founder of Bright Sky HR, Fay Wallis as she and her expert guests share advice on how to get what you want from your career. If you enjoy the podcast, learn more at: https://brightskyhr.co.uk/ or connect with Fay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faywallis/

  1. 2d ago

    173 | How to Build a Better Workplace Culture (So People Thrive at Work), with Aoife O'Brien

    Many organisations want a positive workplace culture, but creating one is easier said than done. How do you know what your culture is really like? What role do leaders play? And why do some organisations create environments where people thrive, while others struggle with engagement, retention, and performance? In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay is joined by workplace culture and leadership expert Aoife O'Brien, founder of Happier at Work and author of the bestselling book Thriving Talent: How Great Leaders Drive Performance, Engagement and Retention. Aoife shares her Thriving Talent framework and practical advice to help organisations create cultures where people can thrive. Together, Fay and Aoife explore psychological safety, leadership, values, strengths, employee needs, and practical ways to improve the experience of work for everyone. In This Episode, You'll Learn:The framework Aoife uses to help organisations create cultures where people thriveWhy psychological safety is the foundation of a thriving workplaceWhy culture is not HR's responsibility aloneThe role leaders play in shaping workplace cultureHow to identify what your workplace culture is really like todayPractical ways to involve employees in shaping cultureWhy many organisations have "accidental leaders" - and the impact this can have on engagement and retentionHow HR can build the business case for investing in leadership developmentWhy values, strengths, and employee needs play such an important role in helping people thrive at workPractical ways to identify your strengths and understand what helps you do your best work Chapters[00:00] - Why workplace culture matters [01:34] - Introducing Aoife O'Brien [04:14] - Why Aoife wrote Thriving Talent [07:09] - The Thriving Talent framework explained [10:00] - The research behind the framework [13:55] - Why psychological safety matters [14:27] - Is workplace culture really HR's responsibility? [17:28] - How to define the culture you want [19:15] - The challenge of accidental leaders [25:27] - Making the business case for leadership development [30:03] - What helps people thrive at work? [35:22] - Values, needs and strengths [39:27 ]- Book recommendations [40:44] - How to connect with Aoife [41:49] - Closing and book giveaway reminder Special Offer for HR Coffee Time ListenersAoife has kindly arranged a 10% discount on her book, Thriving Talent: How Great Leaders Drive Performance, Engagement and Retention. Use this link to access the discount. Useful LinksConnect with Aoife O'Brien on LinkedInVisit Aoife's Happier at Work websiteLearn more about the Thriving Talent bookConnect with Fay on LinkedInLearn about Fay’s Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership Programme Books Recommended In This EpisodeThriving Talent: How Great Leaders Drive Performance, Engagement and Retention - Aoife O'BrienInsight: How to succeed by seeing yourself clearly - Dr Tasha EurichDare to Lead - Brené BrownYour Best Meeting Ever - Rebecca Hinds Helpful Episodes to Listen to NextEp 47: Discovering your values to help your HR Career, with Zoe HawkinsEp 107: The Impact of Imposter Syndrome at Work and How to Tackle It Head-On, with Aoife O'BrienEp 136: How to shape a winning workplace culture when you work in HR, with Annabelle Lawson and Paula BrockwellEp 114: What Workplace Culture Is, How to Measure It, and a Surprising Way to Improve It, with Arend BoersemaEp 76: HR Insider tips on how to create an amazing remote working culture, with Claire Cathcart Enjoyed This Episode? Don't Miss the Next One!Sign up for the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released - and get free career tips, tools, and resources. Mentioned in this episode: Kara Connect - Help When It's Needed Most Menopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they didn't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away. Kara Connect

    44 min

  2. Jun 5

    172 | HR and AI: How One Company Helped Employees Embrace AI (with Laura Maffucci)

    Laura Maffucci has played a key role in helping her organisation embrace AI. The surprising part? She doesn't actually like AI. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Laura, Head of HR at G-P, shares her honest perspective on AI, how her organisation has approached adoption, and the practical lessons she's learned along the way. We discuss everything from creating AI champions and governance processes to helping employees feel comfortable experimenting with AI. Laura also shares her thoughts on job loss fears, the importance of human oversight, and why the reality of AI at work can be very different from what many leaders expect. Whether your organisation is already embracing AI or you're just starting to think about what it might mean for your workforce, this conversation is packed with practical insights and thought-provoking ideas. In This Episode, You'll Learn:Why Laura has mixed feelings about AI despite using it extensively at workHow GP approached AI adoption across the organisationThe role of AI champions and internal advocatesCreating psychological safety around AIHow to encourage experimentation without creating fearThe importance of governance, security and guardrailsWhy prompting skills matterThe risks of relying too heavily on AI outputsThe growing importance of discernment and critical thinkingThe disconnect between executive expectations and employees' experiences of AIPractical examples of how AI is being used within HR and across the business Chapters[00:00] Why I Finally Decided to Cover AI [01:57] Meet Laura Maffucci [02:51] Laura's Surprising View of AI [04:45] How AI Is Being Used at G-P [05:37] The AI Council and Governance [06:40] AI Champions, Training and Adoption [09:09] What's Had the Biggest Impact? [10:05] Finding Your AI Champions [11:33] Addressing Fear of Job Loss [11:47] Creating Psychological Safety Around AI [13:41] The Disconnect Between Leaders and Employees [16:06] The Number One Skill – Discernment [16:27] Cautionary Tale [17:19] The Right Way to Introduce AI [17:54] The Benefits of AI Adoption [18:57] Using Gemini Gems and AI Workflows [23:13] Creating AI Personas for Senior Leaders [24:17] AI Security and Confidential Information [26:15] Book Recommendation: Dare to Lead [28:13] Key Takeaways from the Conversation Useful LinksConnect with Fay on LinkedInLearn about Fay’s Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeConnect with Laura on LinkedInG-P article: Why your best 2026 AI strategy is still human Helpful HR Coffee Time episodes to listen to nextEp 171: How to Build Trust & Get Buy-In Through Brilliant Employee Communication Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources. Mentioned in this episode: Kara Connect - Help When It's Needed Most Menopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they didn't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away. Kara Connect

    31 min

  3. May 22

    171: How to Build Trust & Get Buy-In Through Brilliant Employee Communication (with Nik Nawaaz)

    You can design the best HR strategy, introduce brilliant benefits, or roll out an important change - but if people do not understand it, engage with it, or take action, none of it matters. That is why employee communication sits right at the heart of your impact in HR. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay is joined by Nik Nawaaz, Head of Employee Communications at Barnett Waddingham (now part of Howden) to unpack exactly how HR professionals can communicate in a way that builds trust, gets buy-in, and encourages people to take action - whether that is using their benefits, completing an engagement survey, preparing for a performance review, or navigating organisational change. With over 20 years of experience in employee communications, Nik shares practical, immediately actionable advice — no jargon, no fluff. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why employee communication is the “connective tissue” of an organisationWhy HR can sometimes feel like a faceless department - and how to change thatThe common mistake HR professionals make when writing employee communicationsWhy your message needs to answer “So what?” within the first few secondsHow to shift from explaining features to showing benefitsWhy phrases like “HR is pleased to announce” or “Please be advised” can stop people engagingHow to make your communication feel more human, conversational and directWhy reading your message aloud can help you spot corporate languageHow to use Microsoft Word’s read-aloud feature to improve scripts and written communicationWhy a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works for benefits communicationHow to tailor messages for different groups and generations in your workforceWhy line managers are so important when you want messages to landHow a simple manager toolkit can make communication more effectiveWhy listening for the first five minutes of a meeting can help build trustHow to communicate during times of fear, uncertainty and changeWhy silence can lead people to create their own “horror story”How to be honest when you do not yet have all the answersWhy storytelling and real-world proof can be more persuasive than project updatesWhy employee communication needs support from across the organisation - not just HR Chapters00:00 - When great HR work goes unnoticed 03:24 - What employee comms really means 04:20 - Why HR can feel "faceless" — and how to fix it 06:19 - The #1 mistake: writing for yourself, not your audience 08:49 - Quick win: delete your opening line 09:49 - Drop the corporate speak — write like a human 11:35 - The Word trick that makes your writing sound natural 13:04 - How to get people to actually use their benefits 17:30 - Tailoring messages for different generations 20:58 - Line managers as your communication allies 22:59 - The "First Five" technique 24:01 - Communicating through change and uncertainty 25:58 - Use storytelling, not project updates 28:06 - Resource recommendation: Simon Sinek's Golden Circle Useful LinksConnect with Fay on LinkedInLearn about Fay’s Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeTake Fay’s freeHR Leadership Impact Assessment.Connect with Nik (Nikolas) Nawaaz on LinkedInFind out more about Barnett Waddingham’s employee communications workWatch Simon Sinek’s TED Talk:How Great Leaders Inspire Action Helpful Episode to Listen to NextIf you enjoyed this episode and would like more support with writing clear, effective communication at work, listen to: 🎧 Ep 32: How to write work emails that get results, with Kim Arnold Kim shares brilliant advice that complements Nik’s tips in this episode, especially if you want to make your emails clearer, more persuasive and easier for people to act on. Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up for the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources. Mentioned in this episode: Kara Connect - Help When It's Needed Most Menopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they didn't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away. Kara Connect

    34 min

  4. May 8

    170: 4 Ways to Stay Focused At Work and Handle Interruptions

    Are constant interruptions at work stopping you from getting through your most important tasks? If you work in HR or a People role, you’ll know how quickly your day can be taken over by “have you got a minute?” moments - making it difficult to focus on the work that really matters. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay Wallis shares practical ways to protect your time, reduce distractions and create more space for focused work, helping you step up with more confidence and control in your role. You’ll learn how to: Set clear boundaries without feeling unhelpfulReduce interruptions across your organisationCreate uninterrupted time for deep workStay focused on your most important priorities This episode is designed to support HR and People professionals who want to feel more confident, effective and in control of their time at work. Chapters[00:00] Do you get interrupted at work? [00:16] Interruptions – a big time management problem [00:55] Why HR gets pulled in [01:35] Episode goal and boundaries [01:56] Welcome and host intro [02:33] Four tips overview [03:00] Tip one: open door hours [03:35] Scripts and signage [04:06] Red sign boundary lesson [05:07] Tip two: company focus time [06:15] Deep work explained [07:11] No meeting Wednesday example [07:28] Tip three: working meetings [10:21] Tip four: block a deep work day [12:26] Recap and next steps Useful Links from This Episode:Connect with Fay on LinkedIn Learn about Fay’s Essential HR Planner Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership Programme Take Fay’s free HR Leadership Impact Assessment. Helpful Episodes to Listen to NextEp 7:What to Do When You Don’t Have Enough Hours in the DayEp 45:6 Ways to Stop Procrastinating & Find Time for Important Projects at WorkEp 52:Two Ideas to Help You Bounce Back From a Tough Day at WorkEp 67:How to Get on Top of Email Overwhelm When You’re in a Busy HR RoleEp 138:Can’t Find Time for Strategic Work in HR? 5 Tips to Help Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up for the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources. Mentioned in this episode: Kara Connect - Help When It's Needed Most Menopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they didn't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away. Kara Connect

    16 min

  5. Apr 24

    169 | A Brilliant Example of What ‘Being Strategic’ in HR Actually Looks Like (with Harriet Mewis)

    Have you wondered what ‘being strategic’ actually looks like? In this episode, you’ll hear a real, step-by-step example of what being strategic can look like in your day-to-day work. Host, Fay Wallis, is joined by Harriet Mewis, Head of People and Development, who shares how she spotted a small pattern in employee behaviour – and used it to uncover a much bigger issue affecting the business. What makes this conversation so powerful is how practical it is. You’ll hear how being strategic doesn’t require a big budget, a senior job title, or complicated frameworks. It starts with curiosity, observation, and asking thoughtful questions. By the end of the episode, you’ll have a much clearer sense of how you can apply this way of thinking in your own role – in a way that feels realistic and achievable. Chapters[00:00] Introduction with guest host Sarah Archer [01:00] Why “being strategic” can feel vague and frustrating [01:24] Introducing Harriet and her approach to strategy [02:14] What being strategic actually means in practice [03:02] Beginning of the interview with Harriet & Fay [04:18] Defining what ‘being strategic’ means [05:48] Why you can be strategic in any role [07:22] Harriet’s example of being strategic in her role [21:30] Learning about other departments & building trust [23:39] Becoming an ‘apprentice’ for the day [27:35] Introducing Lean Six Sigma thinking [34:46] Harriet’s book recommendation [37:12] Final reflections & close Useful Links from This EpisodeConnect with Fay on LinkedInConnect with Harriet Mewis on LinkedInConnect with Sarah Archer on LinkedInListen to Sarah’s Podcast – Unstuck & UnstoppableLearn about Fay’s Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeTake Fay’s freeHR Leadership Impact Assessment. Helpful Episodes to Listen to NextEp 166:The Biggest HR Strategy Mistake – And How to Fix It, with Dean CorbettEp 164:Becoming More Strategic as an HR Team – 3 Ways OKRs Can HelpEp 163:3 Ways to Prove You’re Strategic in Your HR Leadership Job InterviewEp 108:HR Leadership – How to Create a Powerful One-Page Strategy, with Dr Max McKeownEp 98:HR Insider Insights – How to Create a Powerful People Strategy for an SME, with Kelly Vincent Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up for the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources. Mentioned in this episode: Kara Connect - Help When It's Needed Most Menopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they didn't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away. Kara Connect

    38 min

  6. Apr 10

    168 | The 5 Things That Will Help You Become a Successful HR Director

    If you’ve been working hard in your HR career but still feel unsure what will truly help you step up into an HR Director role (or have more impact in the one you’re already in), this episode is for you. You might have your CIPD qualification. You might have years of experience. You’re probably working incredibly hard. But those things alone don’t always lead to the impact, influence, or progression you’re aiming for. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, I share the five key areas I’ve identified from working with more than one hundred aspiring and existing HR leaders that really make the difference. And make sure you listen all the way to the end - because the fifth area is often the most overlooked, yet can have the biggest impact on your success. Chapters From This Episode[00:00] HR Director Roadmap [00:31] Five Key Areas Preview [01:00] Free HR Leadership Impact Assessment [02:27] Key Area 1 Confidence [02:51] Confidence in Practice [03:51] More Confidence Resources [04:15] Key Area 2 - Strategic Thinking [04:44] What Strategic Really Means [05:13] Strategy Benefits and Tools [06:25] Key Area 3 - Influencing [08:35 Key Area 4 - Empowering Others [09:51] Key Area 5 - Be Distinctive [11:09] How to Assess Where You Are Now & Next Steps Useful Links from This Episode:Connect with Fay on LinkedInLearn about Fay’s Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeTake Fay’s freeHR Leadership Impact Assessment. Helpful Episodes to Listen to NextIf you’d like to go deeper on some of the ideas from this episode, here are a few great next listens: Ep 167: A surprising way to feel calm and more confident in stressful momentsOperate Strategically Playlist(multiple episodes)Ep 34: Influencing: How to get buy-in for your ideas at workEp 44: Succeeding as an HR professional: How to influence at a senior level Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up for the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources. Mentioned in this episode: Kara Connect - Help When It's Needed Most Menopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they didn't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away. Kara Connect

    14 min

  7. Mar 27

    167 | The Weird Confidence Trick That Actually Works

    Is there something at work you know you’re capable of… but in the moment, your nerves take over? Whether it’s speaking up in a meeting, handling a difficult conversation, or stepping into a high-pressure situation - that disconnect between what you can do and how you feel can be incredibly frustrating. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, I share a simple but slightly unusual technique that can help you feel calmer, more in control, and more confident when it matters most. It's called 'distanced self-talk', and it might feel a bit strange at first – but it’s backed by research and can make a real difference in those moments where your confidence wobbles. What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy confidence can disappear in high-pressure momentsA simple technique that helps you step back from anxious thoughtsHow this approach can reduce nerves and help you think more clearlyPractical ways to use it before and during challenging situations at workReal examples of when to try it – including meetings, presentations, and interviews Recommended Book in This EpisodeChatter: The Voice in Our Head (And How to Harness It) – by Ethan Kross Useful Links from This EpisodeConnect with Fay on LinkedInLearn about Fay’s Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership Programme Other Relevant HR Coffee Time EpisodesEp 1: How to feel more confident at workEp 16: How to become more confident about networkingEp 36: Four simple but powerful techniques to banish imposter syndromeEp 43: The one thing that will boost your resilience throughout your HR careerEp 49: 7 tips to help you feel more confident for your job interviewEp 73: 5 ways to feel more confident in your next interview, meeting, or presentationEp 74: How to get better at presenting & feel more confident about itEp 82: 5 tips to tackle a challenge at work when you aren’t feeling confidentEp 101: How to build confidence with networking for HR career successEp 122: Unlocking confidence for your HR career – 5 tips from expert guestsEp 137: How to recognise & break free from the lies we tell ourselves at workEp 162: How to Feel More Confident Speaking Up in Leadership Meetings Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up for the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources. Mentioned in this episode: Kara Connect - Help When It's Needed Most Menopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they didn't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away. Kara Connect

    13 min

  8. Mar 13

    166 | The Biggest HR Strategy Mistake – And How to Fix It (with Dean Corbett)

    Could you be making the biggest HR strategy mistake without realising it? Creating an HR or People strategy can feel overwhelming - especially when many HR professionals are expected to do it without ever being shown how. In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay Wallis is joined by Dean Corbett, Chief People Officer, psychologist, and coach, to explore one of the most common mistakes HR teams make when creating an HR strategy - and what to do instead. Dean shares why traditional HR strategy documents can dilute impact, and explains how to connect HR priorities directly to the organisation’s business strategy. You’ll also hear practical ideas for thinking more strategically about HR, identifying the people capabilities organisations really need, and using tools like OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to bring strategy to life. Useful Links From This EpisodeConnect with Fay on LinkedInLearn about Fay’s Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay’s Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeConnect with Dean on LinkedInVisit Dean’s website: SOPEOPLE Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeThe Leadership Code: Five Rules to Lead By– Dave Ulrich, Norm Smallwood, & Kate SweetmanPlaying to Win: How Strategy Really Works– A G Lafley & Roger L MartinAligning Human Resources and Business Strategy– Linda HolbecheThe Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organisation– Peter M SengeThink Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know– Adam GrantPerry Timms’ Substack Episodes to Listen to NextEp 164:Becoming More Strategic as an HR Team - 3 Ways OKRs Can HelpEp 148:Skills That Shape a Great CPO: Communication, Coaching & Curiosity (with Jane Beeston)Ep 147:How to Become a Successful Chief People Officer: Insider Insights (with Kanika Mehra) Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One!Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips, tools, and resources. Mentioned in this episode: Kara Connect - Help When It's Needed Most Menopause, grief, ADHD, relationship breakdown... Every day, employees dealing with these situations are turned away by their EAP because they didn't qualify for counselling. When someone finally asks for help, they deserve better. Visit Kara Connect, where no employee is ever turned away. Kara Connect

    35 min
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About

Welcome to the HR Coffee Time podcast; a fortnightly podcast full of tips and ideas to help you have a successful and fulfilling HR career (without working yourself into the ground). It can feel hard to put yourself and your own career first when you're so busy looking after everyone around you. It can leave you at risk of burning out, finding that you're not where you want to be in your career, or feeling unsure about what you want from your career anymore. This podcast is here to help. Join career coach and founder of Bright Sky HR, Fay Wallis as she and her expert guests share advice on how to get what you want from your career. If you enjoy the podcast, learn more at: https://brightskyhr.co.uk/ or connect with Fay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faywallis/

Information

  • Creator
    Fay Wallis
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    174
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 Bright Sky HR Ltd
  • Show Website
    HR Coffee Time

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